Paper sheets having moist center sections impregnated with liquids and dry outer sections bounding the moist center sections

ABSTRACT

A paper product has a plurality of individual paper sheets with a moist center section impregnated with a liquid and dry outer sections that bound the moist center section. The paper product includes a core element and the plurality of individual paper sheets that are wound around the core element. Each paper sheet has a top surface, a bottom surface, the moist center section impregnated with the liquid, a first dry outer section bounding a first edge of the moist center section, a second dry outer section bounding a second edge of the moist center section, a first moisture impermeable barrier at the first edge of the moist center section, a second moisture impermeable barrier at the second edge of the moist center section, and a water impermeable membrane extending laterally between the first and second moisture impermeable barriers for dividing the moist center section into a first region and a second region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/506,870, filed on Oct. 10, 2014, which, in turn,claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/887,707,filed Oct. 7, 2013, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present application is generally related to paper products and ismore specifically related to paper products that are impregnated withliquids to provide individual sheets having moist sections and drysections.

Description of the Related Art

Dispensers containing wet or pre-moistened sheets have a wide variety ofuses including personal hygiene (e.g., baby wipes), cleaning surfaces(e.g., kitchen surfaces), and sanitizing tools (e.g., medical devices).Such dispensers are designed to maintain the moisture content of the wetsheets while allowing individual wet sheets to be convenientlydispensed. The wet or pre-moistened sheets provide a cleaning andsanitizing capability not provided by dry towels, however, there isoften a need to use dry towels together with wet towels. For example,dry towels may be used to dry a surface after the surface has beencleaned with a wet towel. To satisfy this need, dispensers have beendesigned to hold and dispense both wet and dry towels.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,687 to Fitzsimons discloses a wet anddry towel dispenser that contains and dispenses both wet and dry towels.The dispenser includes coaxially located compartments for containing thewet towels and the dry towels, in a nested arrangement, to use spaceefficiently within the dispenser. In one embodiment, the dispenser has asubstantially cylindrical shape and a removable cover on one end toallow the towels to be loaded into the respective compartments.

There have been other developments directed to combining wet and drywipes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,593 to Bloch discloses a dispenser thatcombines dry sanitary tissue and pre-wetted personal hygiene wipes. Thedispenser has front and rear housings that form a first compartment fora roll of dry sanitary tissue. A second compartment is provided insidethe first compartment from which a roll of pre-wetted personal hygienewipes is dispensed.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,802 to Thompson discloses toilet tissue formed of acontinuous strip having moist and dry tissue sheets in alternatingsequence. Adjacent moist and dry tissue sheets are separated byperforations forming tear lines. Each moist tissue sheet includes amoist pad adhered to one side thereof by an adhesive substance forming amoisture resistant barrier between the tissue and the moist pad. Aremovable moisture resistant cover sheet covers the moist pad and isadhered to the moist tissue sheet about the periphery of the moist pad.A holding tab is secured to the side of the moist tissue sheet oppositethe moist pad. The moist pad is exposed by grasping the holding tab andremoving the cover sheet from the moist tissue sheet. In one embodiment,the toilet tissue is packaged on a tubular roll. In another embodiment,the toilet tissue is packaged in accordion-type folds within asubstantially rectangular dispensing container.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,085,899 and 6,170,426 to Thorsbakken discloses a tissuedispenser for dispensing either dry or partially wet and partially drysegments of tissues. The tissue dispenser has a housing with a tissueegress passage, a tissue source of a predetermined quantity of drytissue located in the housing, a fluid source of a predetermined volumeof fluid located in the housing, and an actuatable application mechanismin fluid communication with the fluid source and operationallypositioned proximate to the tissue egress passage. The applicationmechanism can be actuated to dispense fluid onto the tissue as thetissue passes through the tissue egress passage. One partially wet andpartially dry tissue can be used to clean and dry an article. If theapplication mechanism is not actuated, the dispenser will dispense drytissues.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,165 to Mackey et al. discloses wet-like cleansingarticles that are dry to the touch prior to use, but deliver liquid whensubjected to in-use shear and compressive forces. In one embodiment, thearticles include a carrier and an emulsion applied to the carrier, theemulsion having a continuous external non-polar phase and an internalpolar phase dispersed in the external non-polar phase so that thearticle is capable of retaining fluid prior to use.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,153 to Lake discloses a dispenser for a flexible webthat can provide a dry web or a liquid treated web. The liquid treatmentcan include an antimicrobial liquid treatment suitable for personalcontact, a cleaner, a soothing lotion, a protective coating, apharmaceutical treatment, or any other liquid that can provide abeneficial property to a skin surface. The dispenser operates by havinga first position from which it provides a dry web, and a second positionwhich contacts the web with a liquid treatment producing a webcontaining the liquid treatment composition. The user can interact withthe dispenser and place the dispenser in the second position or thefirst position depending on the need for either a wet or dry web.

In spite of the above advances, there remains a need for improvedsystems, devices and methods for providing paper products havingindividual sheets or wipes having at least one moist section and one drysection on the same sheet. There also remains a need for paper productshaving moisture barriers that are able to effectively separate the moistsections from the dry sections and that retain the moisture within themoist sections of the individual sheets during storage and when not inuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, paper products areimpregnated with a liquid, such as a cleaning solution, to provideindividual paper sheets having at least one wet or moistened section andat least one dry section. The paper products may be used for variousapplications including but not limited to cleaning surfaces, personalhygiene, sanitizing instruments, and/or providing medical treatments. Inone embodiment, the paper products may have moistened sections thatcontain various forms of cleaning agents, disinfectants, antiseptics,perfumes, colognes, medical solutions, and/or combinations thererof.

In one embodiment, a moisture impermeable material is utilized forseparating moistened sections of a paper product from dry sections ofthe paper product. In one embodiment, the moisture impermeable materialincludes a wax material that is deposited on the paper to form amoisture impermeable or water-proof barrier between moist or wetsections and dry sections of the paper product. In one embodiment, thepaper product is a paper roll and the moisture impermeable barrierpermeates through every layer of the paper roll to form a seal from onelayer to the next. During storage and non-use, the barrier materialforms a seal that retains the moisture of the moist or wet sections ofthe paper product. In one embodiment, a user may pull on an end of thepaper roll to separate the layers of paper for exposing the moistenedsections of the paper roll for use in various applications as needed.

In one embodiment, a paper product has a plurality of individual papersheets with a moist center section and dry outer sections comprising.The paper product includes a core element and a plurality of individualpaper sheets wound around the core element. Each individual paper sheethas a top surface, a bottom surface, a moist center section containing aliquid, a first dry outer section bounding a first edge of the moistcenter section, a second dry outer section bounding a second edge of themoist center section, a first moisture impermeable barrier at the firstedge of the moist center section that divides the moist center sectionfrom the first dry outer section, a second moisture impermeable barrierat the second edge of the moist center section that divides the moistcenter section from the second dry outer section, and a waterimpermeable membrane extending laterally from the first moistureimpermeable barrier to the second moisture impermeable barrier andbetween the top and bottom surfaces of the individual paper sheet fordividing the moist center section into a first region that extends fromthe water impermeable membrane to the top surface of the individualpaper sheet and a second region that extends from the water impermeablemembrane to the bottom surface of the individual paper sheet.

In one embodiment, the first and second moisture impermeable barriersextend continuously over each of the paper sheets wound around the coreelement. The water impermeable membranes preferably extend through eachof the paper sheets between the top and bottom surfaces of the papersheets.

In one embodiment, the plurality of paper sheets wound around the coreelement form a plurality of layers, whereby the moist center sections ofthe paper sheets are aligned with one another on the core element.

In one embodiment, the core element is a cardboard roll having a centersection that is aligned with the moist center sections of the papersheets wound around the cardboard roll, and first and second outersections that are aligned with the first and second dry outer sectionsof the paper sheets wound around the cardboard roll. The center sectionof the cardboard roll is desirably covered by a moisture impermeablebarrier to present evaporation of the liquid contained within the moistcenter sections.

In one embodiment, the first and second moisture impermeable barriers onthe paper sheets may be made of wax and/or nano particles. The waterimpermeable membranes extending through the paper sheets may be made ofnatural biodegradable materials, synthetic biodegradable materials, soy,and/or albumin protein films.

In one embodiment, the liquid contained within the moist center sectionof each paper sheet may be liquid solutions, moisturizers, cleaningsolutions, antiseptics, medicated solutions, alcohol, liquid soap, babywipes solutions and/or cleaning wipes solution.

In one embodiment, a paper product having a plurality of individualpaper sheets with a moist section and at least one dry section includesa core element, and a plurality of individual paper sheets wound aroundthe core element. Each individual paper sheet has a top surface, abottom surface, a first edge, a second edge, a moist section containinga liquid, a dry section bounding the first edge of the moist section, afirst moisture impermeable barrier at the first edge of the moistsection that divides the moist section from the dry section, a secondmoisture impermeable barrier at the second edge of the moist section,and a water impermeable membrane extending laterally from the firstmoisture impermeable barrier to the second moisture impermeable barrierand between the top and bottom surfaces of the individual paper sheetfor dividing the moist section of the paper sheet into a first regionthat extends from the water impermeable membrane to the top surface ofthe paper sheet and a second region that extends from the waterimpermeable membrane to the bottom surface of the paper sheet.

In one embodiment, the first and second moisture impermeable barriersextend continuously over each of the paper sheets wound around the coreelement. The water impermeable membranes preferably extend through eachof the paper sheets between the top and bottom surfaces of the papersheets.

In one embodiment, the core element desirably includes a cardboard rollhaving a first section that is aligned with the moist sections of thepaper sheets wound around the cardboard roll, and a second section thatis aligned with the dry sections of the paper sheets wound around thecardboard roll. The first section of the cardboard roll is preferablycovered by a moisture impermeable barrier.

In one embodiment, a paper product having a plurality of individualpaper sheets with a moist center section and dry outer sections includesa cardboard roll having a center section and two outer sections, wherebythe center section is covered by a moisture impermeable barrier, and aplurality of individual paper sheets wound around the cardboard roll. Inone embodiment, each individual paper sheet preferably has a topsurface, a bottom surface, a moist center section containing a liquid, afirst dry outer section bounding a first edge of the moist centersection, a second dry outer section bounding a second edge of the moistcenter section, a first moisture impermeable barrier at the first edgeof the moist center section that divides the moist center section fromthe first dry outer section, a second moisture impermeable barrier atthe second edge of the moist center section that divides the moistcenter section from the second dry outer section, and a waterimpermeable membrane extending laterally from the first moistureimpermeable barrier to the second moisture impermeable barrier andbetween the top and bottom surfaces of the individual paper sheet fordividing the moist center section into a first region that extends fromthe water impermeable membrane to the top surface of the individualpaper sheet and a second region that extends from the water impermeablemembrane to the bottom surface of the individual paper sheet.

In one embodiment, the center section of the cardboard roll ispreferably aligned with the moist center sections of the paper sheetswound around the cardboard roll, and the first and second outer sectionsof the cardboard roll are aligned with the first and second dry outersections of the paper sheets wound around the cardboard roll.

In one embodiment, the water impermeable membrane of the outer-mostpaper sheet wound around the cardboard roll prevents the liquidcontained in the moist center sections from evaporating into the ambientair surrounding the paper product.

In one embodiment, the moisture impermeable barrier on the cardboardroll prevents the liquid contained in the moist center sections of thepaper sheets from evaporating into the ambient air through the cardboardroll.

These and other preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a paper product including a paperroll having individual sheets with moist center sections and dry outersections, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a top plan view of a paper product having sheets withmoist center sections and two dry outer sections with a moistureimpermeable barrier separating the center sections from the two dryouter sections, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the paper product shown in FIG.2A taken along line 2B-2B in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C shows two consecutive layers of the paper product shown in FIGS.2A and 2B.

FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view of the paper roll shown in FIG. 1,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows a top plan view of a paper product having sheets with amoist section and a dry section separated by a moisture impermeablebarrier, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B shows a cross-section of the paper product shown in FIG. 4Ataken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A shows a top plan view of a paper product having stackable sheetswith each sheet having a moist section, a dry section and a moistureimpermeable barrier separating the moist and dry sections, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B shows a side view of the paper product of FIG. 5A with thesheets stacked atop one another, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, a paper roll 10, such as a rollof toilet tissue, preferably includes a plurality of individual sheets12 that are wound about a core 14, such as a cardboard roll. Theindividual sheets 12 may be connected to one another along perforatedlines (not shown) that enable the individual sheets to be separated fromone another. The paper roll 10 preferably has a moist center section 16that is bounded by two dry outer sections 18A, 18B. The moist centersection 16 is preferably treated with a liquid solution such as amoisturizer, cleaning solution, antiseptic, medicated solution, etc. Inone embodiment, the moist center section 16 is treated with a liquidsolution similar to that used for baby wipes and/or cleaning wipes.

In one embodiment, the center section 16 is preferably separated fromthe dry outer sections 18A, 18B by a moisture impermeable barrier 20that extends continuously along the length of the paper roll 10. Themoisture impermeable barrier preferably extends along the length of eachof the individual sheets 12, whereby the center section 16 of each sheetare aligned with one another, the dry outer sections 18A, 18B of eachsheet are aligned with one another, and the moisture impermeable barrier20 of each sheet are aligned with one another. In one embodiment, themoisture impermeable barrier 20 preferably includes a first barrier row22A and a second barrier row 22B. The first and second barrier rows 22A,22B preferably define a width W₁ of the moist center section 16. In oneembodiment, the moist center section 16 has a width W₁ of about 4-20 mmand more preferably about 6-8 mm.

In one embodiment, when the paper roll 10 is being stored and is not inuse, the barrier 20 is preferably made of a material that retains themoisture and/or the liquid within the moistened center section 16 sothat the moisture and/or liquid therein does not evaporate. In oneembodiment, the barrier 20 is made of a wax material that provides amoisture impermeable barrier between the moist center section 16 and thedry outer sections 18A, 18B. The wax material preferably permeates everylayer of the paper roll 10 to create a seal from one sheet 12 to thenext sheet. In one embodiment, when the paper is needed, a user may pullon the free end of the paper roll 10 to break the wax seal and separatethe layers of paper for exposing the moistened center sections 16 of thesheets. In one embodiment, the moisture impermeable barrier 20 mayinclude nano particles that are used instead of or in combination withthe wax in order to separate the moist center section from the drysections of the sheets. The nano material preferably blocks the moisturefrom permeating into the dry sections of the sheets. In one embodiment,the moist center sections 16 are used for applying the wet cleaningsolution in order to clean surfaces using moisture/wetness. The dryouter sections 18A, 18B are preferably used for drying the surfaces thathave been cleaned by the moist center sections.

In one embodiment, the moisture impermeable barrier 20 preferablyincludes two rows 22A, 22B of barrier material placed in the center ofthe paper sheets 12. In one embodiment, the barrier rows 22A, 22B aremade of wax, such as wax gelate. In one embodiment, the wax barrier ispreferably placed on the paper during the final stages of manufacturingsuch as when the paper is being rolled up on a core for accuratelypositioning and placing the wax barrier. In one embodiment, the waxbarrier preferably serves as a moisture impermeable barrier that trapsthe moisture or liquid solution within the center section 16. In oneembodiment, the paper is preferably rolled around a core in order tohold the liquid solution or moist solution within the center sections 16of the sheets of the paper roll.

In one embodiment, the wax barrier is preferably delicate in texture andnon-abrasive. The wax barrier is desirably well contained so that itdoes not smear during use. As such, it is preferable that the waxmaterial does not end up on a user when applied to the user's skin. Inone embodiment, the wax barrier is desirably made of a natural materialthat is hypoallergenic. The wax barrier may have a color that is similarto the underlying paper substrate.

In one embodiment, the layers of a paper product may be sealed usingheat injected material, material that is pressure sprayed onto the papersheets, or by pressure sealing the layers using various materialsincluding barrier rows made of moisture impermeable materials such aswax.

In one embodiment, after the paper roll 10 has been manufactured, thebarrier rows 22A, 22B desirably maintain a moisture impermeable sealwhile the product is not being used. In one embodiment, the barrier rows22A, 22B are preferably capable of enabling a user to easily unravel thepaper roll when tugging at the paper sheets. In one embodiment, it isrelatively easy for a user to break the seal formed by the barriermaterial when unrolling the paper product.

In one embodiment, the barrier rows 22A, 22B are preferably capable ofhandling excessive heat during shipment. The barrier material, such as awax gelate, is preferably a natural, biodegradable material. In oneembodiment, the moist center sections 16 of the sheets of the paperproduct may be modified to improve the moisture-holding properties ofthe sheets. In one embodiment, the center sections 16 of the papersheets have the same density and/or properties as the dry outer sections18A, 18B of the paper sheets so as to avoid the formation of a paperroll having a swelled center section.

Referring to FIG. 2A, in one embodiment, a paper roll 110 preferablyincludes individual paper sheets 112A, 112B that are connected togetheralong a perforated line 115 that enables the individual sheets to beseparated from one another. In FIG. 2A, only two sheets are shown,however, a plurality of sheets may be wound in a paper roll as shown inFIG. 1. In one embodiment, each individual paper sheet 112A preferablyincludes a moistened center section 116 bounded by dry outer sections118A, 118B. The moist center section 116 is preferably moistened by aliquid such as a moisturizer, a cleaning solution, and/or liquidsolutions used in baby wipes. The moistened center section 116 ispreferably separated from the dry outer sections 118A, 118B by amoisture impermeable barrier such as a first row 122A of a moistureimpermeable material and a second row 122B of a moisture impermeablematerial. In one embodiment, the rows of the moisture impermeablematerial 122A, 122B preferably extend along the entire length of thepaper roll 110 for retaining the moisture/wetness of the center sections116, and preventing the moisture from seeping into the dry outersections 118A, 118B.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the first and second moistureimpermeable rows 122A, 122B are further apart from one another than arethe moisture impermeable rows shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In oneembodiment, the moist center section 116 has a width W₂ of about 10-100mm, and more preferably about 50 mm. As a result, the dry outer sections118A, 118B are narrower than are the dry outer sections 18A, 18B of thepaper roll in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2B, in one embodiment, the paper roll 110 preferablyincludes a plurality of individual paper sheets 112, each sheet having amoistened center section 116 bounded by dry outer sections 118A, 118B.The moistened center section 116 is separated from the respective dryouter sections 118A, 118B by a first row 122A of a moisture impermeablematerial and a second row 122B of a moisture impermeable material. Thepaper sheet 112B has a top surface 124 and a bottom surface 126. Thepaper sheet 112B preferably includes a water resistant membrane 128 thatextends laterally between the first row 122A of the moisture impermeablematerial and the second row 122B of the moisture impermeable material.The water resistant membrane 128 divides the moistened center section116 into a first or upper moistened center section region 130A, whichextends between the water resistant membrane 128 and the top surface 124of the paper sheet 112B, and a second or lower moistened center sectionregion 130B, which extends between the water resistant membrane 128 andthe bottom surface 126 of the paper sheet 112B.

In one embodiment, the moist center section 116 is made up of threelayers including the water resistant membrane 128, which divides thefirst region 130A of the moist center section 116 from the second region130B of the moist center section 116. The water resistant membrane 128preferably acts as a thin, water resistant barrier that stops moisturefrom evaporating or seeping into sheets 112 that are exposed to ambientair. The thin moisture resistant membrane 128 may be made of numerousbiodegradable materials that are both natural and synthetic. Materialsmay include natural soy material, albumin protein film such as the typefound between a hard-boiled egg and the outer shell.

Although the present invention is not limited by any particular theoryof operation, it is believed that providing a moist center section 116having three layers will maximize moisture and/or liquid retentionwithin the moist center section 116 of each sheet 112 by minimizingexposure of the moisture/liquid to air. Providing sheets 112 with awater resistant membrane 128 located between the first and secondregions 130A, 130B of each moist center section desirably preventsmoisture from evaporating and/or seeping to the outside of the paperproduct, where exposure to air could dry out the layers over time.

Referring to FIG. 2C, in one embodiment, a paper product 110 includes afirst layer 112A, and a second layer 112B wound around a core element114, such as a cardboard roll. Additional layers 112 may be wound aroundthe core element 114, however, only two layers 112A, 112B are shown inFIG. 2C for simplicity. The second layer 112B is a top layer of thepaper product 110 that is exposed to outside air. The water resistantmembranes 128A, 128B extend laterally across the respective moist centersections 116A, 1168, between the first and second rows 112A, 122B ofmoisture impermeable material, to prevent the moisture and/or liquidwithin the respective moist center sections 116 from evaporating and/orescaping from the moist center sections.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the core element 114 may be madeof paper or cardboard, such as a cardboard roll, and may have a firstouter section 138A, a second outer section 138B, and a center section136. The outer sections 138A, 138B are designed to receive the dry outersections 118A, 118B of the paper sheets, and the center section 136 isdesigned to receive the moist center sections 116 of the paper sheets.In one embodiment, before the paper sheets are wound around the coreelement 114, the center section 136 of the core element 114 ispreferably coated or sprayed with a moisture impermeable material suchas wax, nano particles, or a water resistant membrane to prevent themoisture in the lower layers of the individual sheets from seeping intothe core element 114 for evaporating/escaping outside the product, whichcould result in drying out the layers over time.

In one embodiment, the various components of the paper product may bejoined together using heat sealing, pressure, and/or other methods. Inone embodiment, the dry sections of the sheets are made separately fromthe moist sections of the sheets and the components are joined togetherwhen the materials are ready to be rolled onto the core element such asa cardboard roll.

Referring to FIG. 4A, in one embodiment, a paper roll 210 preferablyincludes individual paper sheets 212A, 212B that are connected togetheralong perforated lines 215. The perforated lines 215 enable theindividual sheets 212A, 212B to be separated from one another. In FIG.4A, only two sheets are shown, however, a plurality of sheets may bewound around a paper roll as shown in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, eachindividual sheet 212A, 212B preferably includes a moist section 216 anda dry section 218. The moist section 216 is preferably treated by aliquid solution and the moisture of the liquid solution is retained inthe moist section 216. In one embodiment, the moist section 216 isseparated from the dry section 218 by a first row 222A of a moistureimpermeable material that extends along the length of the paper roll210. The moistened center section 216 also preferably includes a secondrow 222B of a moisture impermeable material that extends along an outeredge of the paper roll 210. The moisture impermeable rows 222A, 222Bpreferably form a seal for holding the moisture within the moistsections 216 of the paper sheets when the sheets are rolled about a core(not shown). The row 222B preferably prevents the moisture from seepinginto the dry section 218 of the paper product.

In one embodiment, the moist sections 216 have a width that issubstantially similar to the width of the dry sections 218. In oneembodiment, the moist section may be wider than the dry sectionassociated therewith. In one embodiment, the moist section may benarrower than the dry section associated therewith.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the each paper sheet 212A, 212B preferablyincludes a water resistant membrane 228 that extends laterally betweenthe first row 222A of the moisture impermeable material and the secondrow 222B of the moisture impermeable material. The water resistantmembrane 228 divides the moist section 216 into a first or uppermoistened center section region 230A, which extends between the waterresistant membrane 228 and a top surface 224 of the paper sheet 212B,and a second or lower moistened center section region 230B, whichextends between the water resistant membrane 228 and a bottom surface226 of the paper sheet 212B.

In one embodiment, the moist section 216 is made up of three layersincluding the water resistant membrane 228, which divides the firstregion 230A of the moist section 216 from the second region 230B of themoist section 216. The water resistant membrane 228 preferably acts as athin, water resistant barrier that stops moisture from evaporating orseeping into sheets 212 that are exposed to ambient air. The thinmoisture resistant membrane 228 may be made of numerous biodegradablematerials that are both natural and synthetic. Materials may includenatural soy material, albumin protein film such as the type foundbetween a hard-boiled egg and the outer shell.

Referring to FIG. 5A, in one embodiment, a paper product 310 preferablyincludes a plurality of individual paper sheets 312A, 312B, 312C thatare stackable atop one another. Although only three sheets are shown inFIG. 5A, other embodiments may have more sheets stacked atop one another(e.g., 50, 100, 150, etc.). In one embodiment, each individual papersheet 312A-312C preferably includes a moistened center section 316A-3160bounded by a dry outer section 318A-318C. The moistened center sections316A-316C are preferably moistened by a liquid such as a moisturizer, acleaning solution, and/or liquid solutions used in baby wipes. Themoistened center sections 316A-3160 are preferably separated from thedry outer sections 318A-3180 by moisture impermeable barriers 322A-322C.In one embodiment, the moistened center sections 316A-316C and themoisture impermeable barriers 322A-322C associated therewith may havevarious geometric shapes including square, circular and oval shapes. Inother embodiments, the moistened center sections and moistureimpermeable barriers may have other geometric shapes.

Referring to FIG. 5B, in one embodiment, the individual sheets 312A-312Care stacked atop one another to form a stacked paper product, with themoistened center sections 316A-3160 aligned with one another, which, inturn, aligns the moisture impermeable barriers 322A-322C with oneanother for sealing the moisture and/or liquid within the centersections of the sheets as long as the individual sheets 312A-312C remainstacked atop one another. In one embodiment, when a top sheet 312A ispeeled away from an underlying sheet 312B, the seal between the adjacentmoisture impermeable barriers 322A and 322B is broken. In oneembodiment, after the top sheet 312A has been peeled away, the secondand third sheets 312B, 312C remain connected together via a seal formedby the second and third moisture impermeable barriers 322B, 322C. Theseal retains the moisture within the center sections 316B, 316C of thesecond and third sheets 312B, 312C.

Referring to FIG. 5B, in one embodiment, each sheet 312 has a waterimpermeable membrane 328 that extends between the top and bottomsurfaces of the sheet and between the moisture impermeable barriers 322to prevent the liquid from evaporating from the moist center sections316 when the sheets are stacked atop one another.

In one embodiment, the moistened sections of the paper rolls that holdthe moisture and/or liquid material are made of a specialized materialthat is absorbent and that has properties that do not encourage themoisture to leak out. In one embodiment, the paper material used for themoist sections is preferably adapted to maintain moisture as long as thepaper roll is stored on a shelf and/or during extended periods ofnon-use. In one embodiment, the moist sections of the paper rolls aremade of paper having a micro-sponge like pattern. In one embodiment, themicro-sponge like pattern has an additional micro layer that preferablyhelps seal and/or retain the moisture within the center sections.

In one embodiment, any section of a sheet may be isolated using moistureimpermeable barrier material to provide at least one moist section ofthe sheet and at least one dry section of the sheet. In one embodiment,the moist section of a sheet may have a geometric shape such as a squareor circular shape that is surrounded by the barrier material forseparating the moist section from the dry section.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, which is only limited by thescope of the claims that follow. For example, the present inventioncontemplates that any of the features shown in any of the embodimentsdescribed herein, or incorporated by reference herein, may beincorporated with any of the features shown in any of the otherembodiments described herein, or incorporated by reference herein, andstill fall within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper product comprising: a core element; aplurality of individual paper sheets wound around said core element toform a paper roll; each of said individual paper sheets having a topsurface, a bottom surface, a moist center section impregnated with aliquid, a first dry outer section bounding a first edge of said moistcenter section, a second dry outer section bounding a second edge ofsaid moist center section, a first moisture impermeable barrier at saidfirst edge of said moist center section that divides said moist centersection from said first dry outer section, a second moisture impermeablebarrier at said second edge of said moist center section that dividessaid moist center section from said second dry outer section, and awater impermeable membrane extending laterally from said first moistureimpermeable barrier to said second moisture impermeable barrier andbetween said top and bottom surfaces for dividing said moist centersection into a first region that extends from said water impermeablemembrane to said top surface and a second region that extends from saidwater impermeable membrane to said bottom surface.
 2. The paper productas claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second moistureimpermeable barriers of said plurality of individual sheets extend alonga length of said paper roll.
 3. The paper product as claimed in claim 1,wherein said first moisture impermeable barrier and said second moistureimpermeable barrier define a width of said moist center section.
 4. Thepaper product as claimed in claim 3, wherein said water impermeablemembrane extends from said first moisture impermeable barrier to saidsecond moisture impermeable barrier and between said top and bottomsurfaces.
 5. The paper product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coreelement comprises a cardboard roll.
 6. The paper product as claimed inclaim 5, wherein said cardboard roll has a center section that iscovered by a third moisture impermeable barrier.
 7. The paper product asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said first moisture impermeable barrier andsaid second moisture impermeable barrier comprise materials selectedfrom the group consisting of wax and nano particles and said waterimpermeable membrane extending through said paper sheet comprisesmaterials selected from the group consisting of natural biodegradablematerials, synthetic biodegradable materials, soy, and albumin proteinfilms.
 8. The paper product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquidcontained within said moist center section is selected from the groupconsisting of liquid solutions, moisturizers, cleaning solutions,antiseptics, medicated solutions, alcohol, liquid soap, baby wipessolutions and cleaning wipes solution.
 9. The paper product as claimedin claim 1, wherein said moist center sections of each of saidindividual paper sheets are aligned with one another on said coreelement.
 10. A paper product comprising: a core element; a plurality ofindividual paper sheets wound around said core element to form a paperroll; each of said individual paper sheets having a top surface, abottom surface, a first edge, a second edge, a moist section impregnatedwith a liquid, a dry section bounding said first edge of said moistsection, a first moisture impermeable barrier at said first edge of saidmoist section that divides said moist section from said dry section, asecond moisture impermeable barrier at said second edge of said moistsection, and a water impermeable membrane extending laterally from saidfirst moisture impermeable barrier to said second moisture impermeablebarrier and between said top and bottom surfaces for dividing said moistsection of into a first region that extends from said water impermeablemembrane to said top surface of said paper sheet and a second regionthat extends from said water impermeable membrane to said bottomsurface, wherein said first and second moisture impermeable barriersextend along a length of said paper roll wound around said core element.11. The paper product as claimed in claim 10, wherein said firstmoisture impermeable barrier and said second moisture impermeablebarrier barriers define a width of said moist section.
 12. The paperproduct as claimed in claim 11, wherein said water impermeable membraneextends from said first moisture impermeable barrier to said secondmoisture impermeable barrier and between said top and bottom surfaces.13. The paper product as claimed in claim 12, wherein said core elementcomprises a cardboard roll having a first section that is aligned withsaid moist section, and a second section that is aligned with said drysection, and wherein said first section of said cardboard roll iscovered by a third moisture impermeable barrier.
 14. The paper productas claimed in claim 10, wherein said first moisture impermeable barrierand said second moisture impermeable barrier comprise materials selectedfrom the group consisting of wax and nano particles and said waterimpermeable membrane comprises materials selected from the groupconsisting of natural biodegradable materials, synthetic biodegradablematerials, soy, and albumin protein films.
 15. The paper product asclaimed in claim 10, wherein said liquid contained within said moistsection is selected from the group consisting of liquid solutions,moisturizers, cleaning solutions, antiseptics, medicated solutions,alcohol, liquid soap, baby wipes solutions and cleaning wipes solution.16. The paper product as claimed in claim 10, wherein said moistsections of each of said individual paper sheets are aligned with oneanother on said core element.
 17. A paper product comprising: acardboard roll having a center section and two outer sections, whereinsaid center section is covered by a moisture impermeable barrier; aplurality of individual paper sheets wound around said cardboard roll toprovide a paper roll; each said individual paper sheet having a topsurface, a bottom surface, a moist center section impregnated with aliquid, a first dry outer section bounding a first edge of said moistcenter section, a second dry outer section bounding a second edge ofsaid moist center section, a first moisture impermeable barrier at saidfirst edge of said moist center section that divides said moist centersection from said first dry outer section, a second moisture impermeablebarrier at said second edge of said moist center section that dividessaid moist center section from said second dry outer section, and awater impermeable membrane extending laterally from said first moistureimpermeable barrier to said second moisture impermeable barrier andbetween said top and bottom surfaces of said individual paper sheet fordividing said moist center section into a first region that extends fromsaid water impermeable membrane to said top surface of said individualpaper sheet and a second region that extends from said water impermeablemembrane to said bottom surface of said individual paper sheet, whereinsaid center section of said cardboard roll is aligned with said moistcenter sections of said paper sheets wound around said cardboard roll,and said first and second outer sections of said cardboard roll arealigned with said first and second dry outer sections of said papersheets wound around said cardboard roll, and wherein said moistureimpermeable material coating said center section of said cardboard rollprevents the moisture in said moist center sections of said individualpapers sheets from seeping into said cardboard roll.
 18. The paperproduct as claimed in claim 17, wherein said water impermeable membraneof said outer-most paper sheet wound around said cardboard roll preventsthe liquid contained in said moist center sections from evaporating intothe ambient air surrounding said paper product.
 19. The paper product asclaimed in claim 18, wherein said moisture impermeable barrier on saidcardboard roll prevents said liquid contained in said moist centersections from evaporating into the ambient air through said cardboardroll.
 20. The paper product as claimed in claim 17, wherein said firstand second moisture impermeable barriers extend continuously over eachof said individual paper sheets wound around said cardboard roll andalong an entire length of said paper roll.